Nothing is more soothing than soft neutral shades, selected worktops and clean tables in a kitchen or living room inspired by minimalism. But having a truly minimalist home is about much more than design choices—it’s also about keeping each room clutter-free.
Whether you’ve recently remodeled in this style or need little ways to stay on top of your cleaning, these are the items the designer (and self-confessed minimalist) cleans daily to keep her home a consistently soothing space.
Meet the expert
Nina Lichtenstein is a New York-based home designer specializing in minimalist spaces inspired by nature.
Old and empty toiletries
According to home designer and minimalist Nina Lichtenstein, having a clutter-free home can do wonders for keeping your mind clear. This is especially true in spaces like the bathroom, which can turn into a spa-like retreat for relaxation when well maintained.
“A tidy home is not just about aesthetics – it’s about creating a space where you can breathe, think and feel relaxed,” she says. “Whether it’s an empty shampoo bottle or skin care container, dispose of toiletries as soon as they’re used to keep your space functional and visually appealing.”
Keeping the sides of the tub and shower shelves as small as possible will also make cleaning the bathroom easier and help you avoid the dreaded moment mid-shower when you realize that the product you need is really gone.
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Accounts and labels
Between grocery shopping and morning coffee, Lichtenstein warns that the bill pile can add up quickly.
And while it’s important to save them during return periods or to record expenses, she says addressing and cleaning up each piece of paper will help keep your desk empty and your countertop clean — and make it much easier to find the one you need if you do eventually you need to send something back.
“When you commit to preserving an item, receipts and labels no longer serve a purpose,” says Lichtenstein. “Shoving these into drawers or bags creates clutter that’s all too easy to ignore until it becomes overwhelming.”
Online Shopping Packaging
Whether it’s Amazon finds, capsule clothing or household goods, online ordering is an integral part of everyday life – even for minimalists. But even if your picks are especially thoughtful, Lichtenstein says the packaging they arrive in can be a major cause of the mess.
“Cardboard boxes, packing peanuts and bubble wrap add up quickly,” she says. “Break them down and recycle or dispose of them as soon as your orders arrive to free up space.”
To keep flattened boxes and packaging out of sight until recycling day, try keeping a lidded container in the coat closet near the front door or a multi-section trash can and recycling bin in your kitchen.
Junk mail
Digging through a huge pile of envelopes and advertisements to find those few important bills can be a nightmare, which is why Lichtenstein recommends sorting and throwing out unnecessary pieces of mail as soon as your daily delivery arrives.
“Paper clutter is one of the biggest culprits of chaos,” says Lichtenstein. “Tossing out junk mail and expired coupons daily keeps the counters clean and prevents piles of unnecessary paper from piling up.”
If you’re an avid reader of newspapers or magazines, she also advises recycling each weekly and monthly issue as soon as you’re done browsing.
Broken or damaged items
While we may have every intention of fixing a broken appliance, piece of kitchen wear, or item of clothing with a hole in it, Lichtenstein believes that if we don’t make the repair right away, it’s unlikely to be done in the future.
“That cracked mug or broken phone charger you’ve been meaning to fix? If it’s been sitting there for a while, it’s time to part ways,” she says. “These items just add guilt and visual clutter.”
Stale food and empty containers
Another area of the home Lichtenstein always tells her clients to focus on keeping clean is the kitchen. Cooking can be a lot of fun when the ingredients are easy to find, but it can turn sour quickly if you come across something expired or unusable hiding in your fridge or pantry.
“Nothing detracts from the atmosphere of your kitchen faster than forgotten leftovers or wilted produce,” she says. “A quick daily scan of the fridge will keep the kitchen fresh and avoid unpleasant smells and surprises later.”
To simplify things even more, keep the week of meals ahead of you in mind as you cook and compost or throw away any perishable ingredients you won’t need for future meals as soon as you’re done with them.
Old cleaning products
Using the best cleaning products will keep your newly renovated home in tip-top shape – but a collection of nearly empty spray bottles, too many products, brushes and old rags could have the opposite effect.
There’s also one item Lichtenstein says you should stay on top of replacing.
“Sponges can harbor bacteria and lose their cleaning power over time,” she says. “Regular replacement (and quick disposal of the old) ensures a cleaner home and healthier kitchen.”
Small Miscellaneous Items
The final category of cleaning that Lichtenstein recommends staying on top of because minimalist is broad—but it’s also one of the most important and can affect every room in your home.
“Small things like paper clips, loose buttons and bent pins seem insignificant, but they can quickly overwhelm small spaces like drawers,” she says. “If you have no use for them, throw them away.”
These one-of-a-kind little items can extend beyond your junk drawer, so keep an eye on your closet, bathroom, and jewelry stash for any stray socks, loose earring pads, and random lids with no product to go with them.